Mount Sikong
司空山
The place where Huike, the Second Patriarch of Chan Buddhism, taught the Dharma. Cliffs and peaks hold the Second Patriarch Temple and the ruins of the Li Bai Study Hall.
Mount Sikong lies in the Dianqian Town area of southwestern Yuexi County. Its main peak is at about 1,200 meters, and the mountain is steep, with many cliffs and rock caves. Legend says that Huike, the Second Patriarch of Chan Buddhism, stayed here and passed on his robe to the Third Patriarch, Sengcan. The mountain has Chan relics including the Second Patriarch Temple, the Robe-Passing Stone, and the Second Patriarch Cave. In the Tang dynasty, Li Bai also lived here in seclusion, and remains of the Taibai Study Hall and poetry inscriptions survive. Climbing is mainly done on hiking trails, taking about 3 to 4 hours round trip, and it is quite physically demanding. Together with Sanzu Temple (Shangu Liuquan), it forms a Chan cultural route. It is about 1 hour by car from Tianzhu Mountain.
Opening hours
Open all day (temple approx. 07:00–17:00)
Nearby sights
- Mount Mingtang
- Huating Lake
- Tianzhu Peak
- Tianchi Peak & Duxian Bridge
- Feilai Peak
- Mystery Valley
- Zongguan Fortress & Hundred-step Ladder
- Statue of Lord Wan